Funny how often all it takes is a different perspective from the one you previously held to move the needle on long-standing roadblocks.
After much futility, starting this project has inspired in me what I think is a solution to my problem with giving the pitchers a similar career trajectory to position players.
Sadly unlike for the hitters, where one could change the stats in the DB, there's no way this methodology could ever be anything other than a manual application, but still for my purposes it's a major breakthrough - or, at least, I hope it is!
So I'll now be reapplying individual pitch, control and movement ratings to pitching candidates in this study each season.
Here, by way of example, is Harry Buckner's career trajectory in these metrics:
Anyway, just thought those of you following along would be interested in hearing about this. Let's see if it is actually a workaround or mere folly on my part.
On to 1902!
G